10 DAY REFRESH & DE-STRESS

THAILAND MINDFULNESS RETREAT

Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai, Thailand

December 12-22 2018

SCHEDULE

Our retreats are structured with meditation and study in the morning and guided excursions in the afternoon. Two excursions are included in the base price of the retreat. Optional excursions are extra and listed below.

Chiang Mai December 12-16 (Days 1-5)

Wednesday Dec 12th Check in to Viang Thapae ResorT

Cost included.

We will stay at the beautiful Viang Thapae Resort located in the center of Chiang Mai on 800 year-old Thapae Road, the signature road of Chiang Mai. We'll stay a short walk to Chiang Mai destinations Warorot Market, Thapae Gate, Sunday Walking Street, Night Bazaar, Flower Market, many beautiful temples, various restaurants and shopping areas.

Wednesday Dec 12th Welcome DInner @The Teak Baan Sakthong, Chiang mai

Cost included.

The welcome dinner is a great way to get to know your hosts and your fellow retreatants. The Teak Baan Sakthong Garden Restaurant offers a wonderful menu of Thai and European selections in a beautiful open air restaurant of Thai design.

every morningMeditation at Wat Chedi Luang Temple grounds

Cost included.

Participants choose one morning meditation and study track for the duration of the retreat. Both morning tracks are suitable for all levels, novice to expert. In Chiang Mai we will hold our morning meditation and study classes on the grounds of this ancient but active temple located in the historic center of Chiang Mai. The current temple grounds were originally made up of three temples,Wat Chedi Luang, Wat Ho Tham and Wat Sukmin. After meditation, strike up a conversation with a resident monk at the "Monk Chat" tent on the temple grounds or embark on one of our guided afternoon/evening excursions or explore the old city of Chiang Mai on your own.

Thursday Dec 13 Evening Bike Tour

Spend a magical evening cycling the maze of small back lanes exploring Chiang Mai’s old city and famous temples. Wrap up the evening sampling street food at the night market.

Friday Dec 14 Hidden Temple Hike + Doi Suthep

Cost included.

Hike is moderate about 45 minutes. Van is available if hiking is not your thing.

Hike the Monk's Trail to The Hidden Temple, then we will take a van up the mountatin to Doi Suthep. You can also take a van to the Hidden Temple if hiking is not your thing.

Friday Dec 14 dinner at gallery resturant

Cost included.

We will end the evening with an early dinner at The Gallery Restaurant, which is an art gallery and restaurant with a classic setting for casual fine dining. This beautiful restaurant is located next to the Ping River and specializes in Thai, Chinese and International food. Enjoy the superb ambiance of The Gallery. The refined décor, along with a multitude of dishes and drinks that will ease you into the perfect Thai experience. The Gallery Restaurant offers a quiet respite to dine by the Ping River.

saturday Dec 15 ELEPHANT NATURE PARK

Optional Excursion, no regular meditation program on this day, due to all day excursion.

$100 to add this excursion. Subject to price change and availability

Take an all day excursion to an elephant rescue and rehabilitation center on a 250 acre reserve 46 miles (1½ hour drive) outside Chiang Mai. As part of their educational ecotourism program, we will be picked up at the hotel, visit the park, hang out and feed the elephants, learn about their history, and observe them bathing in the river. Lunch is provided at the sanctuary. Return to hotel by 5:30pm.

Sunday Dec 16 Wat Umong + The Silver Temple

Optional Excursion

$45 to add this excursion, please note that women are not allowed inside the main Silver Temple. Subject to price change and availability

We will start this optional excursion by visiting Wat Umong. This 13th century temple is built in a wooded area of SuThep mountain and has unique meditation tunnels that were built so the monks could meditate during the rainy season in Chiang Mai.

After Wat Umong, we will visit the Wat Sri Suphan (the Silver Temple), one of the oldest in Chiang Mai, built originally between 1495 – 1515. The main temple building is covered inside and out with silver bas relief panels depicting the life of the Buddha. The silver represents Yin energy which is linked to the moon which is a symbol of wisdom.

Program Note:

Every evening from 6-9pm the monks at the Silver Temple offer a program called Culture Night. The evening includes Monk Chat, a time to talk with the monks and ask questions, 5:30-7:20pm, and from 7:30-9:00pm they offer a meditation program. The charge for these monk-led programs is 250 Baht, about $8 U.S. which is not included in the retreat or excursion pricing.

Sunday Dec 16 Sunday Walking Market

Optional Excursion

In the evening, you are on your own for the Sunday Walking Market which comes alive with street entertainers, musicians, puppeteers, Thai dancers, and bands all performing under the beautiful colored lights. There are a number of restaurants, coffee shops and bars in the market area where you can opt out of the crowd and sit and enjoy a meal or a drink and people watch. The whole place has a very festive nature which makes the Sunday Market a must do on any visit to Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Monday December 17th

Sit back, relax and enjoy the sights for the beautiful drive in air conditioned comfort as we journey together to Museflower Retreat & Spa in Chiang Rai.

^ SWITCH TABS TO SEE DAYS 6-11

Chiang RaiDecember 17-22 (Days 6-11)

Monday Dec 17 MUSEFLOWER RETREAT & SPA check in

Cost of accommodation and all meals included.

Museflower Retreat & Spa is an all- inclusive retreat center and spa in peaceful Chiang Rai offering accommodation, top notch vegetarian cuisine, and full service spa. All meals and an early morning Museflower yoga class is included as part of your stay.

Tuesday Dec 18 Spa Day, Thai Cooking Class & Afternoon bike tour

No formal meditation on this day, excursion, cooking class and spa treatments optional.

Visit the Museflower Spa and get a massage, facial or other relaxing spa treatment. Participate in a Thai Cooking class.

Wednesday Dec 19 Daily Meditation begins at Museflower.

Cost included.

Participants continue their meditation tracks for the duration of retreat.

Wednesday Dec 19 The White Temple + Kuan Yin + Dinner at Night Market

Optional Excursion

$40 to add this excursion, includes admission fees to temples. Dinner at Night Market not included but food cost is nominal. Subject to price change and availability.

The White Temple is a contemporary, unconventional, Buddhist temple designed, built, and owned by the artist Chalermchai Kositpipat. The artist intends for the area adjacent to the temple to be a center of learning and meditation and for people to gain benefit from the Buddhist teachings. This is one of the most famous temples in Chiang Rai.

Kuan Yin Statue at Wat Huai Pla Kung Temple.

This 226 foot white statue of the Bodhisattva of Compassion stands high on a hill overlooking Chiang Rai. The view from the top through her third eye of the surrounding hills and nearby temples is worth the visit. At the nearby 9 tier pagoda, the ground floor has a big wooden Kuan Yin, and one can climb up all the way to the highest tier with different statues of Kuan Yin on each level.

Chiang Rai Night Market.

Behind the clothing and carved wooden elephant stalls are a multitude of stands selling a range of northern Thai delicacies including ‘khao soi’ (curried noodles) and grilled river prawns. This is a great place to enjoy a truly Thai experience.

Thursday Dec 20 Wat Phra Kaewand Oub Kham Museum in Chiang Rai

Optional Excursion

$40 to add this excursion. Subject to price change and availability

Known throughout Thailand as the original home of the translucent green Buddha which adorns the Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok's Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha was situated at Wat Phra Kaew in Chiang Rai for 43 years (1934-1977) before its discovery. A new Emerald Buddha image was carved out of Canadian jade in 1991 and installed at Wat Phra Kaew. We will also visit the Lanna Museum which is located on the temple grounds.

The Oub Kham Museum in Chiang Rai houses an extensive and remarkable collection which brings to life the history and culture of the different Tai and hilltribe groups of Laos, Vietnam, Southern China, and Thailand. The entrance fee includes a guided and very informative tour.

Known throughout Thailand as the original home of the translucent green Buddha which adorns the Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok's Grand Palace, the Emerald Buddha was situated at Wat Phra Kaew in Chiang Rai for 43 years (1934-1977) before its discovery. A new Emerald Buddha image was carved out of Canadian jade in 1991 and installed at Wat Phra Kaew. We will also visit the Lanna Museum which is located on the temple grounds.

Friday Dec 21 Day trip to Chiang Saen and the Golden Triangle

Cost included.

We will go by private minibus with an English-speaking tour guide for the 1 ½ hour ride north to the Golden Triangle and the Mekong River town of Chiang Saen. We will stop at the ancient Wat Phra That Chedi Luang with its beautiful open air prayer hall and newly painted red columns and high roof.

We will then head for the Hall of Opium, a modern museum displaying multimedia exhibits describing the 5000 year history of opium. We will then view the “Golden Triangle” which is the meeting point of the three countries of Laos, Thailand, and Burma (Myanmar) and take a boat taxi over to a market on the Laos side of the mighty Mekong River. We will end the day with a group farewell dinner at the Imperial Golden Triangle Resort in Chiang Saen.

Saturday December 22 DEPART

Depart for Chiang Rai International Airport.

TWO MEDITATION TRACKS

Mindfulness and Meditation Track

MBSR is a highly researched health-promotion program which explores the psychology and physiology of mindfulness and provides tools for fostering a lifestyle of wellbeing and resilience. The goal is for participants to leave the retreat with a plan for bringing meditation and mindfulness into their daily life back home.

Relaxing into Basic Nature Through Meditation

This 10 day practice retreat is a great opportunity to learn meditation, or to deepen your existing meditation practice. Mornings will consist of mindfulness-awareness meditation instruction and practice along with yogic movement, (suitable for everyone) select compassion practices, individual interviews and discussion.

ACCOMODATIONS

Viang Thapae Resort in Chiang Mai December 12 -17

We will staty at Viang Thapae Resort located in the center of Chiang Mai on 800 year-old Thapae road, the signature road of Chiang Mai. We'll stay a short walk to Chiang Mai destinations Warorot Market, Thapae Gate, Sunday Walking Street, Night Bazaar, Flower Market, many beautiful temples, various restaurants and shopping stores.

MUSEFLOWER RETREAT & SPA DECEMBER 17 -22

Museflower Retreat & Spa is an all- inclusive retreat center and spa in peaceful Chiang Rai offering accommodation, top notch vegetarian cuisine, and full service spa. All meals and an early morning Museflower yoga class is included as part of your stay.

I can find ways to slow my mind, be more in the present and offer myself kindness, gentleness, and non-judgement.